Vacuum extractor for childbirth



Aug. 24, 1965 woop ETAL 3,202,152

VACUUM EXTRACTOR FOR CHILDBIRTH Filed March 8, 1965 John E Wood Richard .E. Eby' Theodore CINewczr-d IN V EN TOR-5' United States, Patent Calif.

Filed Mar. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 263,850 Claims. (Cl. 128361) This invention relates to apparatus facilitating the extraction of a child during the act of childbirth.

Generally, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved device of this character, operated by subatmospheric pressure, which may be secured to the head of a child and then manipulated properly to withdraw the child.

In the birth of a child, in some instances a completely natural birth is not possible, and assistance must be rendered by the attending physician in order for the child to be delivered. Such may be done with forceps and other like devices, but these tend to be bulky and hard to handle, and their use introduces chances of injury to the mother and child. The device of this invention features a vacuum-operated means, more specifically a vacuum cup, for attaching to the head of a child, and an elongated stem of stiff material joined to the cup which is used to manipulate the cup, such stem enabling a pulling force accompanied with proper positioning to be transmitted to the childs head by manipulation of the stem of the device.

Thus, another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described, which includes a cup operated by subatmospheric pressure or a vacuum (for attaching to a child), and a hollow stem as a means for manipulating the cup, said stem being of stilt material joined to the back of the cup. The stem, because it is hollow, also provides a means for evacuating air from the cup by Withdrawing such air through the stern.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device, that may be readily manufactured from stiff plastic, with the stem and cup integral with each other.

Yet another object is to provide an extractor for childbirth, which may be manufactured at a relatively low unit cost, and because of this be treated as a disposable item.

A further object is to provide an extractor, featuring a novel form of vacuum distributor therein, said distributor being for the purpose of enabling a large area of the scalp of an infant to be held in a manner which inhibits damage to the scalp.

A still further object is to provide an extractor which is easily cleaned and sterilized in the event that such should be reused.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention, and the same is described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side View of an extractor according to an embodiment of this invention, with portions of the extractor broken away to illustrate details of interior construction;

FIG. 2 is another side view of the extractor shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the extractor from a different angle;

FIG. 3 is a view looking upwardly at the base of the extractor in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side and plan views, respectively, of a distributor device which is part of the extractor.

Referring now to the drawings, and first of all more particularly to FlGS. 1 and 2, the extractor shown comprises a body 19, and detachably mounted within body 10, at one end thereof, a vacuum-distributor element or member 12. Body 10, and the vacuum-distributor member, each may be made as unitary parts, from molded plastic of suitable stiffness.

Body 10 comprises an elongated hollow stem 14, and joined to one end of the stem a cup 16. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the joint between the cup and stem results from the fact that the two are integral parts of unitary plastic body 10. The fixed joint resulting can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 as connecting the back 16a of cup 16 to end 14a of the stem. With the fixed joint contemplated, movement of the stem end 14a in any direction produces a corresponding movement in back 16a of the cup.

Stem 14 includes an opening 18 at end 14!: thereof,

which communicates with the hollow interior of the stem.

The hollow interior of the stem also communicates with the interior of the cup, as can be seen in FIG. 3. With such a construction, when a flexible hose connected to a vacuum source is placed over end 14b of the stem, air

may be evacuated from the interior of the cup with such air traveling through the stem.

To facilitate the making of an air-tight connection with such a flexible hose, or like device, ribs 20 are provided which extend circumferentially about end 14b of the stem. I

As already indicated, body 10 is made of a stiff material such as a stiff material, and a fixed joint exists between the stern and the cup. The stiff properties of the material in body 10 mean that when end 14b of the stem is moved up or down or from side to side, or rotated, similar movement is produced in the cup at the front of the cup. Thus, the physician using the device may properly position the mouth of the cup (and the childs head) by manipulation of any part of stem 14.

To facilitate turning of and pulling on the stem, gripping means is provided adjacent both ends of the stem. Specifically, adjacent end 1412' and integral with the stem are opposed, laterally outwardly projecting ears 24. These constitute digitally operated grippers, which a physician may hook onto or twist with his fingers, when it is desired to pull on or rotate the stem. Adjacent the other end of the stern, and integral with the cup and stem, is a raised shoulder 26. With the stem of the device held by the fingers, the device may be turned and otherwise shifted with the thumb bearing on shoulder 26.

Vacuum-distributo member 12 is provided in the end of body 10 having cup portion 16, for the purpose of inhibiting possible damage to the scalp of the baby and promoting better attachment'with its head. The distributor element limits the'extent that a babys scalp may be drawn up into the cup, and distributes over an enlarged area the zone in which a vacuum is applied to the :back side of the plate portion a stud portion 32. Distributed circumferentially about the stud portion, and also integral with the back side of the plate portion, is a series of spacer elements 34.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the distributor member is placed within body 10 by inserting stud portion 32 upwardly into the hollow stem where it joins with the cup. The fit of the stud portion within the hollow stem is a snug. one, and in this way a firm but detachable mounting for the plate portion (which is part of the distributor member) is produced. To assure that'a snug fit is oband mouth 40 provided a tained, a slight taper may be given to the stud portion as illustrated in the drawings, so that when the stud portion is pressed upwardly into the stem the stud portion becomes wedged in place.

With the distributor member mounted in place, spacer elements 34 on plate portion 3th engage the inside of back 16a of the cup. The spacer elements function to hold the plate portion outwardly a short distance from the back of the cup.

7 Stud portion 32 is provided with elongated channels 36 extending along the sides thereof. These channels provide passages for air along the length of the stud portion when the latter is mounted Within the hollow stem.

Mouth 40 at the front of cup 16 is defined by a flared lip portion 16b extending about the cup. The interior of the cup, in general over-all outline, tapers progressing from the front to the back of the cup. The circumferential outline of plate 30 is slightly smaller than the outline of the interior of the cup where it encompasses the plate portion. Thus, the plate portion is insertable into place by passing it through the mouth of the cup, and with the plate portion in place, a space is left around the outer margin of the plate portion between the plate portion and the cup.

The space around the outer margin of the plate portion allows for the passage of air from the front to the back side thereof. The space is not so large as to enable excessively large portions of a babys scalp to be drawn up thereinto. The plate itself prevents pulling of the scalp furthe into the cup than the front side of the plate.

The plate is imperforate, so that the direct application of vacuum to a babys scalp is in an annular zone within the cup extending about the outer margin of the plate.

When the device is used, the cup of the extractor is placed over the head of the infant, and a vacuum applied, by attaching a hose connected to a vacuum source to end 14b of the stem. Upon air being evacuated from the inside of the cup, a firm attachment with the infants scalp is produced. Once in position, the physician may manipulate the device, using the gripping means disclosed, to rotate, pull, or otherwise shift the position of the infants head, in such a manner as to facilitate delivery.

The device may be made of plastic at a relatively low unit cost, and thus may be treated as a disposable item. There need be only two parts involved in the completed device, and each is made of a common material.

The device may be reused, if desired, and when such is done the same is easily cleaned, simply by removing the distributor member from the inside of the cup. This produces exposure of surface areas in the device. Once cleaned, the device is readily reassembled and placed in operative position.

While an embodiment of the device has been described, it is appreciated that changes and variations may be made without departing from the invention. It is desired to cover all such changes and variations that would be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An extractor for childbirth comprising an elongated hollow stem of stiif material having an opening at one end thereof communicating with the interior of the stem that enables the evacuation of air from said extractor through said stern,

a cup of stiff material having an open month over the front thereof, a

said stem being fixedly joined to the back of said cup with the interior of the cup communicating with the interior of the stem, and

a vacuum-distributor element within said cup,

said element including a plate portion extending across the cup inwardly from the mouth thereof, and

a stud portion joined to said plate portion extending into and wedged within the interior of said stem,

said stud portion including means accommodating the passage of air over the length thereof.

2. An extractor for childbirth comprising an elongated integral stiff plastic body,

said body comprising an elongated hollow stem and a cup joined to one end of said stem, said cup having an open mouth, and

a detachable vacuum-distributor element including a plate portion within said body with the plate portion extending across the interior of said cup inwardly from the mouth thereof,

said distributor element including a stud portion pressfitted into said body of the extractor thus to hold the distributor element in place. I

3. An extractor for childbirth comprising an elongated integral body of stiff plastic,

saidbody comprising an elongated hollow stem and a cup joined to one end of said stem, said cup having an open mouth over the front thereof,

the interior of said cup progressing rearwardly from the mouth of the cup having a generally tapered outline, and

a distributor element mounted within said extractor,

said distributor element including a distributor plate mounted within said cup rearwardly of the mouth thereof,

said distributor plate having a peripheral outline which is smaller than the outline of the mouth of the cup,

said distributor element further including means joined to the back side of the distributo plate producing a wedge fit with the body of the extractor and operable to hold the distributor element in place.

4. An extractor for childbirth comprising a one-piece body of stiff material including an elongated hollow stem and joined to one end of said stern a hollow cup with an open mouth over the front thereof,

a vacuum-distributor plate extending across the inside of said cup and placed rearwardly in the cup from the mouth thereof,

said distribtor plate having a circumferential outline which is smaller than the circumferential outline of the interior of said cup where it encompasses the plate whereby a space exists between the margin of the distributor plate and the inside of the cup,

stud means joined to the back of said distributor plate and extending into the interior of said hollow stern,

said stud means fitting snugly within said stem thus to provide a mounting for the plate joined to the stud means,

passage means provided in said stud means enabling the passage of air through said stem along the length of said stud means, and

space means interposed between the back of said distributor plate and said cup limiting movement of the plate toward the back of the cup.

5. In an extractor for childbirth,

a vacuum cup at one end of the extractor with an open mouth over the front thereof,

a distributor plate within said vacuum cup extending across the inside of the cup and spaced rearwardly from the open mouth of the cup,

a stud portion joined to the distributor plate and extending out from the back thereof, and

means at the back of said cup receiving said stud portion and holding the stud portion and the plate connected thereto in position within said cup, said means comprising an elongated passage through which air is evacuated from the interior of the extractor,

said stud portion including passage means extending along the length thereof enabling the flow of air from the back of the distributor plate over the length of the stud portion.

(References on foiiowing page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Armstead 128-300 Dible 128-300 McConnell 128300 Price 128352 Uddenberg et a1 128-361 6 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,239 1890 Great Britain. 840,885 6/52 Germany. 1,114,278 9/61 Germany.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner. 

1. AN EXTRACTOR FOR CHILDBIRTH COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW STEM OF STIFF MATERIAL HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE STEM THAT ENABLES THE EVACUATION OF AIR FROM SAID EXTRACTOR THROUGH SAID STEM, A CUP OF STIFF MATERIAL HAVING AN OPEN MOUTH OVER THE FRONT THEREOF, SAID STEM BEING FIXEDLY JOINED TO THE BACK OF SAID CUP WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE CUP COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE STEM, AND A VACUUM-DISTRIBUTOR ELEMENT WITHIN SAID CUP, SAID ELEMENT INCLUDING A PLATE PORTION EXTENDING ACROSS THE CUP INWARDLY FROM THE MOUTH THEREOF, AND A STUD PORTION JOINED TO SAID PLATE PORTION EXTENDING INTO AND WEDGED WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF SAID STEM, SAID STUD PORTION INCLUDING MEANS ACCOMMODATING THE PASSAGE OF AIR OVER THE LENGTH THEREOF. 